Annular sealing member with enhanced hoop strength

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a sealing member with enhanced hoop strength. In some embodiments, a valve assembly includes a piston and first means for establishing a fluid-tight seal when the piston is in a closed position and for preventing a blow out condition when the piston is transitioned to an open position. In other embodiments, a sealing member is characterized as an endless annular ring which extends about a central axis, the sealing member comprising an elongated circle cross-sectional shape while the sealing member is maintained in an uncompressed state. In other embodiments, a method comprises extruding a sealing material through an extrusion assembly to form an endless annular ring which extends about a central axis, the extrusion assembly imparting a desired amount of curvilinearity along a longitudinal length of the material to form an orthogonal seam when a leading and trailing edge of the material are adjoined.

1 . In a valve assembly in which a piston is moved from a closed position in which a pressurized fluidic flow is inhibited to an open position in which a pressurized fluidic flow is established, the improvement characterized as comprising first means for establishing a fluid-tight seal when the piston is in the closed position and for preventing a blow out condition when the piston is transitioned to the open position. 
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprises an annular sealing member characterized as an o-ring with an elongated circle cross-sectional shape while the sealing member is in an uncompressed state, the cross-sectional shape taken along a plane that includes a central axis of the sealing member and defined by opposing inner and outer semicircular end surface segments of a selected radius R, and opposing top and bottom linear surface segments therebetween of a selected length L greater than R. 
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing member further comprises an elastomeric material and an annular reinforcement member affixed to the elastomeric material. 
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein the annular reinforcement member is disposed within an annular interior aperture of the elastomeric material. 
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein the annular reinforcement member is affixed to an outermost top or bottom surface of the elastomeric material. 
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprises a sealing member formed of extruded material with an induced curvilinear longitudinal shape to form an orthogonal seam when a leading edge and a trailing edge of the extruded material are adjoined. 
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 6 , wherein the extruded material further comprises a central aperture that is extruded in the extruded material. 
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein the extruded material further comprises a slit that is extruded in the extruded material at an innermost diameter of the sealing member, the slit and central aperture accommodating placement of an interiorly placed reinforcement member into the extruded material. 
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprises an extruded sealing member with an interiorly placed annular reinforcement member inserted through a slit at an innermost diameter of the sealing member. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising a sealing member characterized as an endless annular ring which extends about a central axis, the sealing member comprising an elongated circle cross-sectional shape while the sealing member is maintained in an uncompressed state, said cross-sectional shape defined by parallel top and bottom flat surfaces of selected length L in a direction perpendicular to and intersecting the central axis and opposing inner and outer radiused surfaces of selected radius R and which respectively face toward and away from the central axis, wherein L is greater than R. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member is formed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing member further comprises a rigid annular reinforcement member affixed to the elastomeric material. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement member is embedded within the elastomeric material so that the elastomeric material wholly surrounds the reinforcement member. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement member is affixed to a selected one of the top or bottom fiat surfaces of three sealing member. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member further comprises an annular reinforcement member characterized as a rigid washer. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member further comprises an annular reinforcement member characterized as a wire mesh screen. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of claim I  0 , wherein the annular reinforcement member further comprises at least one rigid annular ring affixed to the wire mesh screen. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein L is greater than 5*R. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a valve member comprising an annular groove in which the sealing member is disposed so that the outer radiused surface of the sealing member contactingly engages an interior annular sidewall to effect a first fluidic seal and the inner radiused surface of the sealing member contactingly engages the annular groove to effect a second fluidic seal, wherein said elongated circle cross-sectional shape of the sealing member facilitates retention of the sealing member within the groove. 
   
   
       20 . A method comprising a step of extruding a sealing material through an extrusion assembly to form an endless annular ring which extends about a central axis, the extrusion assembly imparting a desired amount of curvilinearity along a longitudinal length of the material to form an orthogonal seam when a leading edge and a trailing edge of the material are adjoined. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a step of curing the material to form a cured sealing member configured to establish a fluidic seal. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the extruding step further comprises extruding a central aperture in the material along the longitudinal length thereof. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising a step of inserting an annular reinforcement member into the central aperture through a slit formed through the material. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the extruding step further comprises extruding a slit along the longitudinal length of the material in communication with the central aperture. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising inserting an annular reinforcement member into the central aperture through the extruded slit. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the extruded material is provided with an elongated circle cross-sectional shape while the material is in an uncompressed state, the cross-sectional shape taken along a plane that includes the central axis and defined by opposing inner and outer semicircular end surface segments of a selected radius R, and opposing top and bottom linear surface segments therebetween of a selected length L greater than R. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein L is greater than 5*R.